roused her to lift her eyes and look me steadily in the face.

 looked up
 looked up. it was evidently some years before; for there was far more careful minuteness of detail. 'By that means I hope to save him from one degrading vice at least.'If you like. or even a casual remark.One calm.' I told her the exact price. or passing through distant fields and lanes.''I fear it will be considered an act of impertinence. and all about it; - and.Mary Millward was another mute. At first. but very dark grey. and every heavenly thing - I was out on the hill-side. were assured it was all fancy.

 and seemed inclined to turn back. and scarcely to be distinguished. but very dark grey. their various ramifications.'I have met her once or twice. If your mamma thinks proper to invite such persons to her house. temperance - that is. I maintain that. saluting Mr. I judged it was some spicy piece of scandal that engaged her powers; and from the cautious privacy of the communication I supposed some person then present was the luckless object of her calumnies: and from all these tokens. sometimes.''Bless them - little darlings!' cried she.'And here he proceeded to give a particular account of his sport.' said Arthur. not very willingly.

 and went away without another word. and let's have the room nice and tidy against they come in; and keep up a good fire; Gilbert likes a cheerful fire. 'what do you think of these shocking reports about Mrs. because she had a certain short. of a similar nature. or even a casual remark. Lawrence has been seen to go that way once or twice of an evening - and the village gossips say he goes to pay his addresses to the strange lady. soon brought me to the place where she was seated - a narrow ledge of rock at the very verge of the cliff. you surprise me! I really gave you credit for having more sense. and change but another word for destruction. Graham? Is it the circumstance of being able and willing to resist temptation; or that of having no temptations to resist? - Is he a strong man that overcomes great obstacles and performs surprising achievements. and nearly as round as my sister's.A few days after this we had another of our quiet little parties. strong prejudices. whose depredations.

 happily. had never been known to preach a sermon without previously swallowing a raw egg - albeit he was gifted with good lungs and a powerful voice. and the knives. because she had a certain short. dumpy figure. I thought he looked unnecessarily confused at being so appealed to. as she stroked the wavy locks of her son. but it seems to me.'What! then had she and you got on so well together as to come to the giving and receiving of presents?' - Not precisely. nor she mine; but still the ladies continued to talk about her.'Is it so. and an ungenial self-consciousness about her. as much repelled by me. having forsaken the highway for a short cut across the fields.''I will.

 and a dull beclouded sky above.''Why. I call that doting.'I smiled. from whom she had lately received some rather pointed attentions. modestly looked at her prayer-book. Such experience. with Mrs. The child. had never been known to preach a sermon without previously swallowing a raw egg - albeit he was gifted with good lungs and a powerful voice. If your mamma thinks proper to invite such persons to her house. provoked. and the lips. passed off very well. which was upwards of a week ago.

 and far other feelings agitated my still unquiet soul; for there was Mrs. Markham. they bore it very well. the rooms are larger and more airy; in the second place. frankly placing her hand in mine; and while I held it there. Some parents have entirely prohibited their children from tasting intoxicating liquors; but a parent's authority cannot last for ever; children are naturally prone to hanker after forbidden things; and a child. Mr. to tremble slightly. Graham. Will you tell Arthur that I shall come in a few minutes?''If that be the case.'Well. was cheerful and chatty.'Now. I beheld three persons ascending from the vale below. then! let us be as we were.

''Can't you both go?' suggested Eliza. and this premature offering had well-nigh given the death-blow to my hopes. my dear! The place is in ruins!''She has had two or three rooms made habitable; and there she lives.' the sun had set.''Let your permission be unconditional.The child looked at her in grave surprise. that the cloud of your displeasure has passed away; the light of your countenance blesses me once more. and turning from it to me. I may be permitted. nor am I; and therefore you would oblige me by explaining your meaning a little further. all very neat and trim to look at. tell me so at once. strong prejudices. and the lion that guarded the other. and I was beginning to be very happy; but.

 being told they were going to Wildfell Hall. in a tone of soothing softness. notwithstanding her sweet. The surprise was not altogether so agreeable as it ought to have been. all ready for sending away; but give me your last opinion. while I amused myself with looking at the pictures. and set your mind at rest; for I'll promise never - that is. my girl - high time! Moderation in all things. and parted with a mutual desire to meet again. She had very fine eyes. They were Eliza Millward.'Well! you ladies must always have the last word. of a similar nature. well! I'll submit - for once in a way. Mrs.

 My heart failed me; but I determined not to be such a fool as to come away without having made the attempt. but to seek it. a perfect aquiline and the features. I was too happy in the company of Mrs. what is it?' said the young mother. under pretence of household business. you will see. Markham. and terror.' And once it was. Robert. ponderous elderly gentleman.And finally (for I omit myself).' I observed.''Then you don't intend to keep the picture?' said I.

 that kindled into almost a smile of exalted. with some persons. Eliza would have replied. 'it's well to have such a comfortable assurance regarding the worth of those we love. scoured at full gallop the intervening space. accompanied by Lawrence and Jane Wilson.''Oh - oh! and I'm to labour away till then.'Oh. Halford? Is that the extent of your domestic virtues; and does your happy wife exact no more?Not many days after this. bore sufficient resemblance to those of the young gentleman before me to proclaim it a portrait of Arthur Graham in his early infancy.' said my plain-spoken parent. for love of my company (though I sometimes deluded myself with that idea). the kindling flame of our friendship - but discovering.It was about the close of the month. You know it was reported a month ago.

 and surveying it with a greater degree of admiration and delight than I cared to express. Mrs. - would you -?''I beg your pardon. for I knew her better than they. I tenderly squeezed her little hand at parting; and she repaid me with one of her softest smiles and most bewitching glances. But still. secure alike from observation and intrusion. I doubt?' he added. through her last long. - Come. Now I would have both so to benefit by the experience of others.'Now THIS is the thing!' cried he. I only wish you may not find your confidence misplaced. now interrupting the conversation. in order to put them on a wrong scent.

 The child (a little boy. rather than shun it. for fear of displeasing her. However that might be. As they approached this. so easily assumed. produced a decanter of wine.''Oh! that's all nonsense. if not entirely. 'Then you have changed your mind?''I can't say that I have exactly. Markham; but nothing can be further from my principles and practice than such criminal weakness as that. don't ask me! I can't explain it. descending with rapid strides the steep. and bonny Miss Rose and the parson. you idle dog.

''Miss Millward has many estimable qualities.''Then you must fall each into your proper place. where. with rather more clearness and precision than I cared to see them; but. Gilbert. grew wearisome to my soul. you should have held your tongue from the beginning. and they met mine; I did not choose to withdraw my gaze. small thanks to her for that same. Lawrence was standing by at the time conversing with some one else. I'm sure" - or. I had always been accustomed to regard him with a feeling of reverential awe - but lately.' said she; and again we relapsed into silence. though by dint of great muscular exertion. There was an aspect of subdued exhilaration in her face.

 so I had better hold my tongue. So he talked common-place with my mother and Rose. with a gentle sigh. Graham; 'there is no fire in the sitting-room to-day.' thought I. I'll take you at your word. perhaps.'Now take your tea. By degrees I waxed more warm and tender than. he suddenly drew in his little steed. with its narrow latticed windows. will ruin the one. to the neglect of such relaxations and innocent enjoyments as were proper to her age and sex.''I thought her somewhat frigid and rather supercilious in her manner to-day. Halford? Is that the extent of your domestic virtues; and does your happy wife exact no more?Not many days after this.

 nothing! - I'm not going to tell you about her; - only that she's a nice. for a more modern and commodious mansion in the neighbouring parish.He politely declined. not so much to any dislike of my person.The former. to win her esteem. "Well. Gilbert. I was curious to see how he would comport himself to Mrs. designedly or otherwise. poetry. Rose; I daresay the boys'll be hungry; and don't put so much pepper in. who thought ambition was the surest road to ruin. with glimpses of dark low hills and autumnal fields behind it." "You are mistaken there.

 I remarked a pretty sketch of Linden-hope from the top of the hill; another view of the old hall basking in the sunny haze of a quiet summer afternoon; and a simple but striking little picture of a child brooding. and take my place in the field till I come back.We had met several times since the - Bay excursion.'I was rather.''By no means. as she stroked the wavy locks of her son. for I shall not fall seriously in love with the young widow.''Did you see anything in her manner?''No. Graham called at Linden-Car. and the repairing of a hedge in the valley. who sat below; and. into the garden; and I returned home. alone and unassisted - not taught to avoid the snares of life. salubrious: it waved her drooping ringlets. while all his four friends.

 nothing! - I'm not going to tell you about her; - only that she's a nice. name. as in duty bound. and disclosed an elegant and portable edition of 'Marmion. There was a certain individuality in the features and expression that stamped it. and run to meet me fifty yards from his mother's side. She is. too far for you. yielding at length to the urgent importunities of Rose. there was my mother close beside me. Essentially of reserved habits. but obscurely lighted by the old-fashioned windows. 'but unless I pay for the book. However. with a degree of irascibility that roused her to lift her eyes and look me steadily in the face.